How much caffeine is in kombucha?
A 12 fl oz bottle of kombucha has 41 mg of caffeine.
That's about half a cup of brewed coffee, and 10% of the 400 mg a day the FDA cites for most healthy adults.
Source: USDA FoodData Central · checked 10 Nov 2026
When did you have it?
Had at 3 pm, about 14 mg is still in you at an 11 pm bedtime. That should not affect most people’s sleep.
Your whole day, every drink, in the free CaffeineIQ check. The iPhone app is coming soon.
Latest time to drink it
For an 11 pm bedtime, a 12 fl oz bottle of kombucha stays under the 50 mg most people sleep fine with, even late in the evening. The table works it out for other bedtimes and for how sensitive you are: it is the latest time to start one so that the caffeine left stays under the line all night.
| Bedtime | Very sensitive under 25 mg | Average under 50 mg | Not very sensitive under 100 mg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 pm | 4:55 pm | Any time | Any time |
| 10 pm | 5:55 pm | Any time | Any time |
| 11 pm | 6:55 pm | Any time | Any time |
| Midnight | 7:55 pm | Any time | Any time |
| 1 am | 8:55 pm | Any time | Any time |
For a 12 fl oz bottle of kombucha, average clearance (half-life 5 h), 8 hours of sleep. "Any time" means even one at bedtime stays under the line.
How long it lasts
The caffeine from a 12 fl oz bottle of kombucha peaks in your blood about 75 minutes after you start it, at roughly 35 mg. Half of it is gone in about 5 hours for an average adult; that ranges from roughly 3 to 7 hours, and longer in pregnancy or with some medicines.
| Time after | 3 hours | 6 hours | 9 hours | 12 hours |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Still in you | 29 mg | 19 mg | 13 mg | 8.3 mg |
So one had at 3 pm leaves about 14 mg at 11 pm. How long caffeine lasts explains the curve.
How it compares
Kombucha is stronger than 65% of the 38 teas we track, by caffeine per serving.
Per fluid ounce (3.4 mg) it is stronger than 63% of them.
To reach 400 mg in a day you would need about 10 of these.
Less caffeine
- Starbucks Earl Grey Tea 40 mg, Grande
- Starbucks Royal English Breakfast Tea 40 mg, Grande
- Honest Tea Mint Green Tea 35 mg, 16.9 fl oz bottle
More caffeine
- Yorkshire Gold 43 mg, 200 ml mug, brewed 5 min
- Dona Masala Chai Concentrate 45 mg, 1 serving
- Black Tea 47 mg, 8 fl oz cup
FAQ
Is kombucha high in caffeine?
It is moderate. A 12 fl oz bottle of kombucha has 41 mg, which is 43% of the 95 mg in an 8 fl oz cup of brewed coffee.
Can I drink kombucha at night?
For most people, yes: even late in the evening a 12 fl oz bottle of kombucha stays under 50 mg at an 11 pm bedtime.
How long does the caffeine in kombucha last?
It peaks about 75 minutes after you start it. Of the 41 mg, about 19 mg is still in you 6 hours later and 8.3 mg after 12 hours, for an average adult with a 5-hour half-life.
Does kombucha have more caffeine than a cup of coffee?
No. A 12 fl oz bottle of kombucha has 41 mg; an 8 fl oz cup of coffee has 95 mg.
Method and limits
The caffeine figure comes from USDA FoodData Central; recipes, brewing and batches vary, so a real serving can differ. The curves use a standard one-compartment model with an average 5-hour half-life and a sleep-friendly line of 50 mg; your own body may clear caffeine faster or slower. How it works has the details.
These are estimates for information, not medical advice.